Method of fabrication and erection of gas holders



W. E. GRUENING ET AL METHOD OF FABRICATION AND ERECTION OF GAS HOLDERS 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 31 Mr M ATTORNEYS 06L 10; 1944. w; GRUENlNG ET AL 2,360,222

METHOD OF FABRICATION AND ERECTION OF GAS HOLDERS Filed July 31, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY5 IIIIIIIII IN V E N T0 Q5 wm dlvaa Get, 10, 1944.

W. E. GRUENING ETAL METHOD OF FABRICATION AND ERECTION OF GA S HOLDERS Fild July 31 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet s W 6 mvzsw rori s MWM'Z'; WM M ATTORNEYS- 1944' w. E. GRUENING ET AL zfiwpzzz METHOD OF FABRICATION AND ERECTION OF GAS HOLDERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 31 1940 1 vENTo R;

a/tnfr ATTORNEY:

- M4 K WC z a u Och 1944 w. E. GRUENING ET AL 2,369,222

METHOD OF FABRICATION AND ERECTION OF GAS HOLDERS Filed July 31 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS W .5 WM. ATTORNEY Ma BY Fotcuied @ci. lfi, loco heir co srsr s retool moo or rouuros'rrormlvo crooner: or cos morocco 'Wlllicm E. Greening cud Herbert C. Br illnrclmloii, @hio, esslsllors to ".lhe

in. mm.- on, Stoce Erothers Goo @oucilructlora *Jomocuy, @lncln- .7 mil, while, is corporation oi @hlo Applicaiiom ma or, loco, some! on. soccer 3 @lulms.

This invention relotcs to a. gas holder construction. It is directed to the method of building the holder as well as itsstructure. More particulsrly, the invention is concerned with the liit type holder; that-ls, the type of holder wherein u. series of tank sections or lifts nest within a. stetionergz sealing tank, which is filled with water or liquid such as oil. As the holder is filled with cos, the inner section or lift, which includes the roof, raises, and when it has been elevated to its full height, picks up the next section or lift with the result that when the holder is full of gas, all of the sections or lifts have been raised to the total amount of their respective heights. These bottom and tonic walls. Ihe inner lift shell was then built within this took. When this lift was completed, lowering mechanism, consisting of drums and suificienti-ceble, were mounted on, the top wall of the took, and the cables were secured to the bottom section of the intermediate or next lift, which had been assembled on rest blocks, lo-

cated on the bottom of the tank. The assembled bottom --cup section, was then raised up to the opprommote top of the tank wall where it was completely riveted. As the plates or panels, which made up the shell of the section, were erected, this assembly was lowered suficiently so es to permit welding or riveting to he performed from the top of the tank, until finally the entire lift was completed and allowed to come to rest on the bottom of the tank. This procedure is necessary due to the foot that the clearance or distance between the holder sections is so small that it is impractical to work satisfactorily in these areas. Ubviously, the work was done at c. fairly high (Cl. co -deem from the inside and the lift close to and within the shelter of the outer tom: well. The intermediate lift or lifts "and the inside lift are then constructed, the roof being added lest.

Through this particular procedure, it has been possible to weld the tool: lifts not only on themside, but on the outside so well. In accordance with the invention and as e. supplementary step,

the builder can inflate the holder and as each lift section rises emve the too of the tank, he can weld, on the outside.

Furthermore, it has hoes determined that e.

great deal of the Welding and sssemhly operatlous may be accomplished in the shop of the builder, rather than in the hold, and therefore, another phase of the invention resides in the provision of prefabricated sections, readily fitted together at the Place of construction. The prefabricated panels can be accurately assentbled in jigsln theshop. Worpage can he held to a. minimum and ollowouce can he mode for construction, due to welding. This facilitates the field erection and results in o finished holder in which the dimensions more hecrly approach the theoretical dimensions. With this improvement in mind, the inventors have disclosed a sectional arrangement wherein the bottom hanging row,

. including the lift flange, my be ossembled from elcvctlon and shove the protection of the base tech wall, so that in case of a, sudden Wllld or carelessness of the workmen. the well under constructiorl was opt to collapse.

Accordingly, the broad concept involved here is to assemble and complete the sections or liits of the tank either progressively outwardly, or progressively inwardly, preferably the letter. In the latter arrangement, the outside-lift is conetructed first with the assembly taking place circular segments and likewise, the top hanging row may be assembled in the some way. Largo prefabricated panels, including the vertical stifl= ener members are then cssmbled around the lift to form the lift wall, and additional filler panel sections added as the work progresses to make up e. solid wall. I

A further development is provided here, wherein it is possible to weld the extemolly overlapped panel sections, top and bottom housing rows, together against the open face of on outwardly mung girder, thus providing o continuous seal, the welding at these points being done entirely from the outside. Other objects and further advantages will be more fully apparent in the description of the drawings.

Figure l is an exploded View. showing the various assembly units going to make up a. section or vFigure 2 icon end view of c. section of the top hanging row and top curb assembly.

Figure 3 is a side edge view of one of the panel panels and some of the Figure 6 is a perspective view, showing the assembly of the bottom hanging row and girder sections.

Figure 7 is a perspectiv view, showing the construction advanced to include some of the top hanging row and top curb assembly sections.

Figure 8 is a perspective view taken similar to Figure 6, showing the construction of the lift still further advanced. I

Figure. 9 is a perspective view of the completely assembled lift.

Figure 10 is a sectional view, taken diametrically through one side of the complete gas holder, the view being fragmentary for the purpose of compactness, and showing all of the lifts lowered.

Figure 11 is a sectional li-l t, Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a sectional view, taken on line l2-l2, Figure 10.

Figure 13 is a sectional view taken on line l3l3, Figure 10.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary side view, looking at the outside of a portion of one of the lifts, incorporating the conventional cup plate and dip plate.

Figure 15 is a sectional 85-45, Figure it.

Figure 16 is an enlarged fragmentary view, illustrating the arrangement of the welding at the joint between one of the panels and one of the hanging rows adjacent one of the vertical legs or girders. E

Figure 17 is a sectional view, taken on line ill-ll, Figure 16, furtherdetailing the welding at the girder.

Figure 18 is a sectional view, taken on line til-53, Figure 16, further detailing the welding beyond the vertical leg or girder.

. Figure 19 is a diagrammatic sectional view, illustrating the first step in the construction of the holder; namely, the construction of the tank.

Figure 20 shows the next step in the method of erection; namely, that of constructing the outside lift.

Figure 21 shows the addition of an intermedieate lift.

Figure 22 shows the completely assembled holder, including the inside lift and the inside tank wall.

Figure 23 shows the holder inflated, in the method of fabrication, for raising the inside lift to a point where its exterior is accessible for outside welding.

Figure 24 shows the intermediate lift elevated view, taken on line view, taken on line by inflation for accessibility to its exterior surface.

Figure 25 shows the tank fully elevated for access to the lower lift.

Referring to the drawings, it is pointed out primarily that the lifts are assembled; that is,

welded together in their lower ornested position within the tank. These lifts may be of several types, there being two types ilustratedone of these as shown in Figures 1 to 13 inclu-' sive and Figures 19 to 25 inclusive, being the type disclosed in the copending application of William E. Gruening for Gas holder, filed February 26,

plates. invention are concerned, it is immaterial which of these two constructions is employed.

The first step in the fabrication of the holder is to build the tank 53d, shown diagrammatically in Figure 19, and more in detail in Figure 10. Referring to Figure 10, this tank provides a bottom 35, and. an outer wall 32, which wall includes an offset portion 33, clearing the rollers of the lifts and extending the tank above a certain elevation and permitting submerging of the lifts to the necessary degree. A series of uprights 3d are arranged circumferentially-around the tank and make up the posts of the framework which guide the lifts as they move up and down in the operation of the tank. These uprights may be connected by any suitable ciroumferen tial arrangement of girders and bracing members. The tank-may be provided with an inner wall formed of light sheet metal in which case that portion of the tank centrally of the annular trough, which contains the lifts, is filled with water to the same level as theoil in the annular tank, and thus, there isvery little hydrostatic pressure on the inner tank wall.

Described in general, the outside lift is indicated at till, the intermediate lift at all and the inner lift at St. The inner lift is in the form of a. bell, including the roof 39 for the structure.

The roof is connected to the side wall of the bell by means of a circumferentially arranged angle iron member it. The side wall is braced 1940i Serial No. 320,763, wherein the cup channels and grip plates are eliminated, and packing is incorporated between the lift flanges or curb rails. The other type, shown in Figures 14 to 18 inclusive, includes the cup channels and grip by means of E-beams tl (Figure 13), disposed vertically, around its inside wall. An angle iron girder 632, is disposed circumferentially around the roof on the inside thereof, and fins 63 extend between the and each girder or Z-bcam d l.

The assembly of elements around the lower end of the lift in each instance may be referred to as a circular, horizontal, stiffening girder, which serves to resist wind loads and transmits these wind loads to the guide frame of the structure, thereby preventing excessive distortion of the walls of the various lifts. Specifically, this girder which may be referred to as a curb rail and is constituted by an angle iron rail dd strengtherred by a horizontal sheet metal plate ring t5 secured against the lower ends of the upright girders ti, and the bottom flange of the angle iron element it. A heavy vertical band 38, of sheet metal, is attached around the inner side of the lower end oi the liftagalnst the lower inner faces of the girders ti. The upper end of this roof section or hell includes a plurality of radially, upwardly extended carriage frames or hearing extensions ill appropriately braced by means of braces 68. Upon these extensions are secured carriage heads or hearing brackets 39 each of which has one roller 5t engaging the web of an lI-beam guide 5i and rollers E52 engaging the opposite sides of the I- beam guide. Each upright 34 includes one of these guide rails 5i.

The curb rail at the base of this section 38 has roller brackets 53 depending therefrom and carrying rollers M engaging the webs of the ver- Insofar as certain of the features of this aseaaaa guide arrangement similar to that described for the roof section, extends radially, upwardly from the intermediate and outer sections respectively to the main guide rails of the framework.

Bearing brackets iii are secured to the underside of the lower curb rail of the'inte'rmecllate section and carry rollers t2, rolling vertically along the webs of guide rails or girders 63, secured vertically to the inner face of the outer lift section 36. The outer lift section also includes a lower curb rail, formed of an angle iron strip lid. Adjustable bearing brackets t carry rollers 66, which roll up and down the vertical guide rails or girders bl, fixed to the inner face of the outer wall of the oil tank 36. The curb "rails of the intermediate and lower lift sections are adapted to rest upon supporting pads lit, fixed to the base 3! of the tank.

As set forth in detail in the previously mentioned Gruening application, the upper curb rails of the outer and intermediate lifts and the lower curb rails of the intermediate and inner lifts carry sealing elements 69. These elements 69 cooperate to provide seals between the respective lift sections as each lift rises and carries the next lift with it.

As shown in Figures 20, 21, and22, the lifts are assembled in nested position and the welding is done on the inside, whereupon the holder is inflated and the lifts are externally welded (see Figures 23 to 25 inclusive). It will be appreciated that the assembly of the lifts may take place in reverse order; that is to say, the tank bottom may be laid, the interior wall 35 set up, and the inside intermediate and outside lifts assembled and welded in. the order named, whereupon the outside tank wall may be built. It will be obvious in this case that the welding will be first accomplished on the outside wall, and if desired thereafter, may be performed on the inside walls,

although this is not as convenient as the method wherein the welding is last performed on the outsides of the lifts. V

In Figures l to 5 of the drawings, the prefabricated sections are illustrated. In the present method, much of .the welding is done in the plant of the company building the holder, thus cutting down greatly on the amount of welding which must be done inthe field. Obviodsly, conditions within the plant are better suited for more eii'icient welding and for proper handling of the parts through fixed jigs and clamping means.

As shown, a strip of steel plate, indicated at it, is welded to the short vertical flange of the angle iron curb rail strip 53.. This constitutes one section, indicated at III, of the assembly referred to as the top hanging row and the top curb. Another section constituted by a strip of sheet metal ll, strengthening plate ring at, angle iron rail 5? (or the vertical band of sheet metal 28), and the angle iron rail a l goes into the assembly I, referred to as the bottom hanging row and girder.

Another assembly II- consists of adjacent panels, constituting a section of the wall of the lift. These panels indicated at 72, are welded together along their adjoining margins i3 and carry vertical stifi'eners, say the stifieners ill, 63, 55, or

dl, disposed along their vertical internal margins These stifieners project a and welded thereto. V above and below the panels and the assemblies,

-indicated in Figures 2 and 4, may therefore be welded to the stififeners with the overlapping horizontal edges of the plates it, ii, and the horizontal top and bottom edges of the panel plates l2, respectively welded together (Figures 14 to 18 inclusive). Also alternate panel sections, assemblies IV, made of sheets it-l3 and not including the stiiieners or guides are provided and adapted to be attached in the same manner as the other panels to the plates it and ii. These Figures 14 to '18, as previously noted, disclose the cupv and grip plate construction which is quite conventional in lift type holders.

It is therefore believed unnecessary to describe the structure of the top and bottom sections of the lifts shown in these views.

In the prefab'rication of the panel units, which include the girders, vertical stiiieners, filler or sealing plates it are sealed in position on the girders at the upper and lower ends thereof.- This construction is shown in Figures 14 to 18 inclusive. These plates are disposed in-the same plane as the panels and have their inner edges butt-welded as at Ma, to the upper and lower edges of the panels. The sheets of metal it and ii are placed in position, overlapping the plates lit-l2 of the panels. This overlapping joint is sealed along the inside up to the girders when the lifts are originally assembled. Later,

the Joints are welded along the outside as the lifts are elevated by inflating the holder. Thus,

40 the inserts or filler plates make it possible to get accessible from the exterior.

possible to weld this butt joint under the pres-- end of the channel.

the escape of air into the channel to the butt a seal across the face of the vertical stiffener,

which in the case oi hollow stiffeners, prevents leakage of air through the girder at this point.

Another way of accomplishing this result is to notch the panel plates as at it (Figure 1) to a depth equalize the overlap of the plates. This later construction is shown in Figures 1 to 13 and is preferred over the'flller plate described above.

Thus, when the strips of metal it and ii are placed in position, overlapping the plates it-J2 (Figure 18), the lower edge, say of the plate iii registers with the upper edge of the plate it at the notches "it and by drawing down the plate ill at the notches, a butt joint may be formed,

It would be imsure exerted by the air when the holder is inflated. Accordingly, a seal plate 75 is placed on the upper end of the channel. The lower end of the channel still being down in the liquid of the tank, the liquid acts as a seal at the lower This arrangement prevents 4,; p 2,360,222 7 completed and. rests on the appropriate blocks, 2, A method of constructirm a gas holder of shown in Figure 10. The panel assemblies II, including the uprights, are then placed in position endthe'top hanging row, assembled in sections as the panels are placed in positions (Figure 7). The alternate panel assemblies IV are welded in plane as shown in Figure 8. The completed lift is shown in Figure 9. The various panels and parts to be assembled may be aper tured to provide for initial assembly by means of bolts, or the assembling or holding of the parts together for welding may be accomplished vhy the use of wedges or clamps.

When the lifts have been welded together at their interiors, air is blown into the holder and the lifts are raised one by one and the exterior welding of the holder walls accomplished by workmen standing on the horizontal flanges of the lifts (Figures 23 to 25 inclusive).

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A method of constructing a gas holder of the lift type, comprising, the following steps; assembling the bottom of the stationary tank; constructing the outer wall of the tank, constructing the lifts progressively while the lift sections are fully nested, welding the lifts internally; and thereafter progressively raising the completed lifts and Welding the outside walls thereof as each lift is elevated above the level of the next adjacent lift.

the liit type, comprising the following steps; constructing the respective'lifts while in fully nested position; welding each lift on the side away from the previously constructed lift; constructing the. tank surounding the lifts; filling the tank with liquid and inflating the holder so as to cause the lifts to rise in the normal manner; and thereafter welding the lifts on the side m opposite to the sides previously welded.

3. A method of constructing a lift of a gas holder of the lift type, comprising, the following steps; assembling segments of the bottom hanging row to make up the completely circular hotm tom portion; mounting alternate wall panels on said circular bottom portion, said panels having stifleners providing extensions disposed 1 downwardly and upwardlyand making up the full wall height with the exception of the bottom- 0 hanging row and the top hanging row; assemhling segments of the top hanging row; attaching the segments of the bottom hanging row and top hanging row to theextended stiffener portions; and filling in thespaces between the 25 alternate panels with panel sections to maize up the complete lift.

' WILLIAM. E. GR'UENING.

HERBERT C. BRENNAN. 

